WPBFD History

T-42 on parade with Miss Flame 1955.

p.m. on December 2, 1955. South Borough Station headed out for 405 Malverne Street, only a block away. Flames leapt from a second floor apartment as they pulled up in front. Firemen Carl W. Cathey and James B. Calvitt laddered the building to rescue Thelma Murray who had been trapped by the fire. Flames were quickly knocked down, but a search discovered a male body on a porch next to the burned out living room. Neighbors only knew the man as "Chobee," but he was later identified as Wesley Luker, age 52. Six new firemen were added to the roster on De- cember 5, 1955. The men were Karl E. Fultz, Norman Perry, John J. Fletcher, Dale E. Nelson, John D. McCrae, and Curtis S. Adair. Fletcher and McCrae would rise to the rank of assistant chief and Adair would later become deputy chief. The department numbered 66 personnel with the addition of the new recruits. The additional personnel were used to man a new company at Central Station that was designated Company 1-B. The rank of lieutenant was implemented to provide officers for the new company. Eight of the sixteen driver/ engineers who took the lieutenant's test passed and three were promoted to the new position on December 14, 1955. 1956

A charter amendment passed by the city commission reduced the firemen's workweek from 60 to 56 hours in early 1956. No longer would the men be required to re- port for training on their days off to make-up the addi- tional 4 hours necessary for a 60 hour week. Prior to 1956 training of personnel had been as- signed as additional duties of company officers. Chief Witherspoon recognized the importance of a regular drill routine to ensure that the department was able to carry out its mission. Experience alone was not enough to keep firemen proficient in their duties; major fires, where the most experience is gained, were no longer a common oc- currence. Witherspoon appointed Robert E. Milkins as Drill Master in January of 1956. This new full time posi- tion originally carried the rank of captain, but later was upgraded to an assistant chief position with the title changed to chief of training. Milkins was perfect for the tasks he was assigned as drill master. He had the delivery of a military drill in- structor, was extremely knowledgeable in fire sciences, and was physically capable of performing all the strenu- ous activities in fire ground operations. Perhaps his most important asset was a sincere concern for the safety of those he instructed. No single act or event contributed more to the fire defenses of the city than the improved

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